Flea to France: shopping at Europe’s largest vintage market

The Provençal village of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue has the largest concentration of vintage stores outside Paris and also hosts a giant open-air flea market. The next is in August – so get ready for a bric-a-brac bargain

For a small place, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue isn’t short of antiques shops. Filled with tiny, walkable quarters specialising in different types of vintage, this ancient Provençal village has the largest concentration of vintage stores outside Paris. These mini districts are reached by criss-crossing bridges that span the shallow, clear river Sorgue, creating a spot that, for a homewares lover, is irresistible.